2.5M Without Power as Cold Snap Looms

Superstorm Sandy recovery still patchy in NY, NJ

(Newser)
–
A million customers have regained electricity in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, but a cold snap is coming while 2.5 million homes and businesses remain in the dark, report Reuters and the New York Times. From today's stories:

All but roughly 5,800 people have power in Manhattan and crowds are flowing back into the city's parks. But people in the outer boroughs and suburbs say they are getting desperate with power outages and gas shortages. "I just keep waiting for someone with a megaphone and a car to just tell us what to do," said a Long Island resident.

With temperatures headed for the low 30s tonight, New Yorkers may run short on fuel despite emergency government deliveries. "There's no heating oil around," said Vincent Savino, president of New York's Statewide Oil and Heating. "I don't know how much fuel we have left: maybe a day or two."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has told county clerks to stay open for early voting this weekend, reports Reuters. "Tired of cleaning stuff up?" he said. "Go there in person, you'll get a ballot, you vote and hand it in and you're done." He also promised that paper ballots would be available in voting stations that still lack power on Tuesday.

Emergency responders have tethered a construction crane that was dangling in midtown Manhattan. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said 57th Street should be reopened tonight.

Some of the storm's saddest stories are about elderly people who refused to evacuate, the AP reports. Bound by wheelchairs or just too stubborn or tired to leave, nearly a dozen were found dead in New York.

In this photo looking south from 33rd Street in New York City, lights are on in some buildings in Lower Manhattan as power gradually returns to parts of the city, Friday, Nov. 2, 2012.
(AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

A woman with her groceries passes a group of National Guardsmen as they march up 1st Avenue towards the 69th Regiment Armory, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in New York.
(AP Photo/ John Minchillo)

Shows just how worthless the government is, both on the local and federal level. You pay all these taxes for this?
When the tax payer needs a return on his investment (disaster assitance) the government is nowhere to be found, because in truth, taxes are holdups by fat government pensions and welfare receipants.
Next time you're standing in a long gas line and or sleeping in a cold dark room from Sandy, think about how you have no one to blame but yourself....for voting Democrat all those years.

reallybig

Nov 4, 2012 8:27 AM CST

Sam Jack said it best, What the "f__k" where the "f__k" is Obama..... A photo opt for Obama and speech, and Obama does what he always does, NOTHING....... Obama promised, and promised, (FEMA) was standing by even before Sandy hit, and he promised Sandy's victims would get all necessary help needed immediately..... Where is ALL the (FEMA) help Obama promised? ..... Talk and promises are cheap, and Obama is the talking-est, cheapest, incompetent President, in history..... Bush said it, "Your doing a great job Brownie" and Obama is the (Brownie) on this hurricane Sandy...... Where the "f__k" is the free gas Obama promised? .... Sam Jack said, "Wake the f__k up" Obama.

winterfairy

Nov 4, 2012 7:40 AM CST

They could have gasoline trucks able to navigate local neighborhoods
with multiple spigots to hand out gasoline for generators. They could
have generator trucks ready to feed power to sub stations. They could
have MRE's and Ice trucks ready to hand out same.
My god, they are swimming in money and its not like this never
happens. It takes a damn week to get their act together?? They are
just evil people.

Community

Site Maps

Get Newser

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.